Chapter 121: Opportunity and Grand Ceremony!

On Mount Tianmu, three hundred soldiers from Yuezhou—or rather, Yuezhou rebels—clashed with Li Yun’s forces for just an hour before being scattered. Their skill was poor to begin with; even armed and clad in basic armor, they were no match for these seasoned bandits, let alone for someone as formidable and uncanny as Li Yun. Moreover, this was mountainous terrain—the bandits’ home ground.

In truth, unless a troop was professionally trained, no matter their numbers, Li Yun's group, even if outmatched, could still break through any encirclement. But Li Yun showed mercy; after capturing He Gang and watching the others scatter, he did not pursue. Instead, he dragged He Gang back to the main camp on Mount Tianmu.

Zhang Hu, having slain several men, returned to camp exhilarated. He eagerly approached Li Yun, grinning broadly. “Second Brother, these Yuezhou soldiers are nothing! They can barely defeat the government troops, so why not us? Why not proclaim ourselves kings?”

“Let’s rebel too, and you, Second Brother, become king!”

Li Yun shot him a sharp glare and snapped, “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Zhang Hu’s eyes widened, about to retort, but Li Zheng grabbed him by the arm and whispered, “Huzi, listen to Second Brother.”

Embarrassed, Zhang Hu scratched his head and fell silent.

Back at the Tianmu camp, Li Zheng had everyone rest briefly before tallying casualties. Only two of their men had fallen, while the Yuezhou rebels lost at least forty or fifty, with even more wounded.

Reporting the losses, Li Zheng sat beside Li Yun, smiling. “Second Brother, these Yuezhou troops are truly inept. We didn’t even fully engage, yet we fought them almost five to one and still routed them.”

“They’re not a real army,” Li Yun replied soberly, shaking his head. “They’re just common folk who picked up weapons and put on armor. Qiu Dian’s rebellion hasn’t lasted long; there are hardly any proper troops.”

Li Zheng chuckled. “Second Brother, from what I’ve been reading lately, the imperial conscription isn’t much different—just rounding up commoners, arming them, and sending them to the front.”

“The difference is these Yuezhou troops lack ruthlessness and don’t have overseers.”

Overseers were indispensable in formal armies—not to strike the enemy, but to enforce discipline. Those who retreated were executed on the spot.

Li Yun looked up at Li Zheng, then laughed softly. “You’ve been reading a lot recently, haven’t you?”

Li Zheng grinned. “Back in Qingyang, I picked up the books you didn’t finish. Most I haven’t read fully yet.”

The chief of the camp nodded quietly and continued, “These Yuezhou rebels will likely come back after this defeat. If General Zhao, who is attacking Qiantang, sends troops here, we might not hold. Whether we stay on Mount Tianmu is something we need to consider.”

Li Zheng was about to speak when someone hurriedly entered. “Boss, messengers from Xuanzhou have arrived. Commander Cui orders you to return immediately—he has matters to discuss. Here is his letter!”

The voice was familiar; without looking, Li Yun knew it was Chen Da. He took the letter and asked, “We’re not in Xuanzhou anymore. How did they find us?”

Chen Da scratched his head. “Not sure. But we’re not far from Ningguo, and we haven’t been hiding. They probably inquired along the way.”

Li Yun nodded, calmly opening the letter. After reading it, he folded it back and pondered.

Commander Cui’s letter conveyed the imperial conscription decree: Li Yun and his anti-bandit squad were to be incorporated directly into the army. Once the imperial commander arrived, they would immediately be deployed to the front.

Li Yun frowned. This was both good and bad.

The advantage was that once absorbed, their squad would become an official military unit, with access to proper arms, tents, and pay—no longer a burden on Li Yun.

The downside was that once enlisted, they would be under others’ command, and Li Yun might lose control.

He narrowed his eyes and tapped the table gently.

Even if they joined the army, his anti-bandit squad must remain an independent battalion under his command. If the authorities refused, he would simply “disband” the squad, letting them stay on Mount Tianmu or return to the Ten Kings’ Camp on Mount Lingyang.

Officially, he would claim they all perished in battle, so no one could blame him.

As Li Yun contemplated this, Li Zheng grew anxious. “Second Brother, what does Commander Cui want with you?”

Li Yun smiled. “Nothing major. The court is indeed moving against Qiu Dian’s rebels. This might be our chance.”

What Li Yun urgently needed was a domain where he held absolute military and political authority. Without such a base, he could only nurture his power covertly, as he had in Qingyang—slowly and cautiously.

But the collapse of the Great Zhou was accelerating beyond his expectations. He had to speed up his plans.

He handed the letter to Li Zheng, signaling him to read it. Then he said, “I’ll ride to Xuanzhou. The round trip will take at least four days. Even if Yuezhou reacts, they won’t arrive here in time.”

Standing, he looked at Li Zheng. “While I’m away, you and Third Uncle will manage Mount Tianmu.”

“If anything happens, or if large forces of Yuezhou rebels come, you’ll retreat through the back mountain, return to Xuanzhou territory, and find a place to regroup. Wait for my orders.”

Li Zheng finished reading the letter and murmured, “Second Brother, Commander Cui intends to fold us into the imperial pacification army.”

“So… you’re going to be an official?”

Li Yun shot him a teasing glance. “Look at you, so hopeless.”

Li Zheng smiled sheepishly, saying nothing.

Li Yun then asked Chen Da, “Do you want to come with me to Xuanzhou?”

Chen Da considered briefly. “Boss, just say the word.”

Li Yun nodded. “Then you lead the Qingyang county officers back to Qingyang to meet the magistrate. Tell him: if the prefecture demands conscription, Qingyang will hold off. I’ll handle it.”

Chen Da agreed and set off ahead of Li Yun down the mountain.

After Chen Da left, Li Yun turned to Li Zheng. “The Ten Kings’ Camp on Mount Lingyang is our first stronghold; this Mount Tianmu camp is our second. This will be our foundation. We must protect it.”

“Especially the anti-bandit squad. When I’m gone, they might not behave. Don’t tell them I’m going to Xuanzhou. If anyone asks, say I’ve gone down the mountain to gather intelligence.”

“If the captains ask, just say...”

Li Yun mused quietly, “I’m working on their official status. It might be approved soon.”

Seeing Li Yun so serious, Li Zheng lowered his head respectfully. Then sighed, “I’m not as meticulous as Ninth Brother; I’m not sure I can manage it well.”

Ninth Brother Liu Bo remained at Mount Lingyang, helping Li Yun manage the Ten Kings’ Camp. Indeed, Liu Bo was more thorough.

“It’s not difficult. If Liu Bo can do it, so can you.”

Li Yun rose, patting Li Zheng’s shoulder. “We’re brothers by name. You must support me.”

“Second Brother, rest assured,” Li Zheng said fervently. “I’ve followed you since childhood. Whatever you ask, I’ll do.”

Li Yun smiled, satisfied. “In a couple of years, I’ll find you a fine wife.”

With that, he stood and walked out alone.

Because the Yuezhou rebels might return at any moment, Li Yun wasted no time. Descending Mount Tianmu, he rode straight to Xuanzhou. Fortunately, Ningguo was not far from Xuanzhou. By the afternoon of the next day, Li Yun arrived and met with Cui Shao at the government office.

“Commander Cui,” Li Yun greeted, sweating profusely and clasping his fists. “What business brings you to me?”

Cui Shao wrinkled his nose at the sweat and frowned. “Why didn’t you wash before coming?”

Li Yun frowned but then relaxed, stepping back.

“Commander, you said the matter was urgent in your letter. I dropped the anti-bandit campaign and returned immediately...”

“Enough, enough,” Cui Shao waved him off. “Let’s get to the point.”

“You know the situation. I plan to incorporate your anti-bandit squad into the imperial pacification army. What do you think?”

Li Yun raised an eyebrow. “So, no more fighting bandits?”

“Bandits and thieves are but minor pests. With national affairs pressing, this can be postponed.”

“This decision is final. Just prepare accordingly.”

Li Yun raised both eyebrows and said slowly, “In that case, I have two conditions.”

Cui Shao frowned. “Speak.”

“First, our anti-bandit squad must remain an independent battalion under my command. Otherwise, their ferocity won’t be curbed, and others won’t manage them well. Problems could arise.”

“Second, our enlistment fills Qingyang County’s quota. If we join, Qingyang won’t need to conscript anyone else.”

Xuanzhou prefecture could barely muster two to three thousand troops. The order of “one in ten men” was a threat—if a county failed to meet its quota, the conscription would be even harsher.

For Qingyang, that meant roughly two hundred men, about the size of an anti-bandit squad.

Cui Shao looked at Li Yun, then said, “The second condition is acceptable, but the first is not. I’m responsible only for conscription; how troops are organized after enlistment is the imperial generals’ concern, not mine.”

Li Yun had expected this and smiled. “Commander, I have a gift for you.”

Cui Shao frowned. “What gift? I am not a greedy man.”

“The brother-in-law of the rebel Qiu Dian.”

Cui Shao suddenly stood, knocking over his teacup.

“What... What did you say?”

Li Yun’s expression was calm.

“I said... I captured the brother-in-law of the rebel Qiu Dian.”

“His name is He Gang.”

(End of chapter)